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RTFM (lemmus.org)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hello Linux community.

I'd like to take a moment to explain what I hope will be a simple concept (so really it's more of a reminder) that everyone should say least know and understand.

Not everyone (myself included) learns best by RTFM. Some of us need a guiding hand or to watch a video instead. It's not that we're lazy or don't like reading, it's just that it doesn't work efficiently enough.

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[–] 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

"RTFM" (or similar comments like "it's in the docs") are just mean and useless without a reference.

Like, okay, superior user in the internet: If it's in the manual/docs, what page? Do you have a link? Could you quote the relevant section?

Often people ask because they couldn't find the answer in the docs. Simply pointing them at the answer is infinitely better than "lol the answer is in there somewhere"

See also: "Let me Google that for you..." Like mf Google brought me to this thread!

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  • [–] 3 points 7 months ago

    I agree that "RTFM" can be insensitive, and even mean. However, the place it comes from is genuine. It's nobodies job to tell you exactly what page to look at. If you've dug through the docs and still can't find your answer, make it explicit that you've searched the manual, and perhaps be explicit about parts you don't quite understand.

    The whole "RTFM" thing was born from people asking for help when they obviously hadn't made a proper try themselves first.

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